Anchor rail shims



March 16, 1965 P. c. MARIMEN 3,173,611

AAAAAAAA IL SHIMS Filed Oct. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PETERC. M AAAA EN TTTTTT EY March 16, 1965 P. c. MARIMEN 3,173,611

ANCHOR RAIL SHIMS Filed Oct. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

fill-9 6 BY PETER C. MARINE W WWW ATT RNEY 3,173,611 ANCHOR RAIL SHIMSPeter C. Marimen, 3886 Grant St, Gary, Ind. Filed (let. 3!), 1961, Ser.No. 149,486 3 Claims. (Cl. 238 327) The subject application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 87,296,filed February 6, 1961.

This invention relates to railroad rail anchor means and moreparticularly .to supplemental means for renovating and making moreeffective worn out anchor means.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a shim that can bereadily inserted between a rail and a partially worn or damaged anchorto renew or reestablish a firm clamping action between the rail andanchor.

A significant object of the invention is to provide a shim preferably ofmetal adapted for insertion between an anchor and a rail in a mannerwhereby to compensate for any loss or distortion of the material of theanchor resulting from excessive wear.

An important object of the invention is to provide a relativelyinexpensive shim preferably constructed of resiliently flexible sheetmetal which is adapted to be inserted between the anchor and the rail,when the holding or locking action of the anchor is no longer effective,thereby eliminating the necessity of replacing a rather expensive anchorper se.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a shim oranti-rattle device which is clamped or locked in position by applying aforce or forces to the anchor in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the rail to which the anchor is detachablyconnected.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a shim which ispreferably constructed of sheet material having a hardness which ispreferably substantially equivalent to or slightly less than that of theanchor.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a novel method ofapplying a shim and anchor therefor to a rail.

Additional attributes of the invention reside in providing a shim and anorganization which offers advantages with respect to efliciency inoperation, durability, installation, and economy as to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent afterthe description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction withthe drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing two conventional anchor platesmounted on a rail and provided with my improved metal shims;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of a rail with one of my improved shimsin place between the rail and an anchor;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of a pair of corresponding shims;

FIGURE 4 is a partial vertical section of a rail showing the manner inwhich the shim is first manually applied to a flange of the rail;

FIGURE 5 is a partial vertical section of a rail depicting a step of amode of applying an anchor to the rail to force the shim onto theflange;

FIGURE 6 is a partial vertical section of a rail showing the anchor inits normal connected relation with the rail, with the shim locked in anoperative position;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIGURE7 showing the areas or lines of contact between the shim, rail flangeand anchor; and

FIGURE 8 is a partial vertical section of a rail illustrating the use ofa shim constructed from sheet material which has a cross-sectionaldimension somewhat less than that of the shim shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 5 generally designates a portion of aconventional rail having the usual head 6, intermediate web 7 and a base8.

The rail 5 is supported upon a plurality of conventional stationary tiesincluding the tie 9. A pair of corresponding elongate anchors or membersgenerally designated 10 are detachably connected to the base 8 inlongitudinally spaced transverse parallel positions along the length ofthe rail in straddling abutting relationship with respect to thevertical sides of the tie in a manner whereby to assist in stabilizingthe normal upright position of the rail and substantially preventinglongitudinal creepage or shifting thereof in a direction transverse tothe ties.

Due to the constant travel of many trains over rails and the vibrationscaused thereby, each of the anchors eventually wears, especially at theinternal area or location designated by the numeral 11, and as a resultit becomes loose and rattles and no longer serves its intended purpose.Factor-s with respect to replacing worn anchors with new ones add to theoverall cost of maintaining the rail system in proper condition.

The subject invention avoids replacement of a worn out anchor whilestill maintaining the same as effective or more effective than if itwere new. To this end, I provide a shim generally designated 12, asexemplified in FIGURE 3, which may be readily manually installed betweenthe base 8 and the Worn out area or areas 11 in an anchor, thusproviding a firm grip or clamp of the shim and anchor on the rail, asshown in FIGURE 1.

As exemplified in the drawing, each shim has a short upper inclinedplanar portion or member 13, a lower horizontal planar portion or member14 somewhat longer than the portion 13, and a vertical planar portion ormember 15 constituting a bridge joining the upper and lower portions. Asevidenced in FIGURE 4, the shim is readily manually applied to one of apair of opposed flanges 16 and 17 of the rail with the free end or edgeof the upper pontion of the shim engaging an upper inclined surface 18of the flange 16 and the major surface area of the lower portionengaging the under surface of this flange or base. It will be noted thatthe bridge portion 15 is spaced from the edge of the flange 16. Theshims are preferably constructed from resiliently flexible sheet metalstrip stock having a hardness which is preferably substantially the sameor somewhat softer than the hardness of the anchors so that they willflexibly conform or accommodate themselves to the flange and Worn area11. The area 11 is generally scalloped or concave and in some instancesthis area may be generally regular or irregular in shape.

Various forms of anchors are utilized but each of those disclosed hereinpreferably includes a jaw 19 for receiving the flange 16, a jaw 20 forreceiving a flange 17 corresponding to the flange 16, and an elongatecurvilinear bridge generally designated 21 connecting the jaws. The jawsare each substantially U-shaped in cross-section and the jaw 20 ispreferably provided with a continuation forming a projection or abutment22 which is adapted to be forcibly engaged by an elongate special lever,operably by an individual, which is utilized to selectively remove eachanchor from a rail. Each of the anchors is resiliently flexible incharacter substantially throughout its length and may be referred to asa clamp. The jaws may also be referred to as being clamps due to theirresiliently flexible gripping structure. The bridge 21 preferableincludes a relatively large depending substantially U-shaped spring orportion 23 which promotes the flexibility of the anchor and offers arelatively large curved surface area for engaging the side of a tie toassist in stabilizing the position of the anchor and rail. It will beobserved that the depending portion 23 on each anchor has a lowerrounded extremity which is preferably somewhat wider in cross-sectionthan at its upper extremity where legs or sides of the portion joinlowerportions ,24,.

of the jaws. The portions .24 are preferably inclined to assistinimparting strength to the anchor and provide' clearance sothatcorrespondingconvex; surfaces 25 and 26 of each anchorwillrespectively engage, the lowerportion 14 of a shim and the undersurface of the flange 17 as exemplifieddn FIGURELI.

Attention is directed to the factthat-while FIGURES)" 5 and 6only'showthe jaw 19 as .beingprovided with" an internal worn area 11, 1it is recognized that the inter-= ml area of the jaw 20 and the edgesaofthe flanges 16',

and17 of-the-railmay also wear to some extent.

Each of theanchors shown in FIGURE 1 is preferably applied and fastenedto the railby placing the anchor thereunderso-that the jaw 19 receivesthe-shim and the flange 16. A special-lever (not shown) provided'with ahead isthen conneetedtothe anchor and engagesthe'jaw 19 and, spring23'for forcing the anchor ina direction transverse to the length of therail to-cause the jaw 19 to press; the shim onto the'flange 16 totheposition substantially depicted in FIGURES 2 and 5,whereupon-application ofadditional force in'a generally upwarddirecpositively locking the'anchor and. shim in their respective tion onthe jaw 20 will cause this jaw to snap intoem- 1 bracing clampingrelationship, withthe flange 17, thereby operative positions withrespectto one another andthe rail.-- The-abutment 22. is provided 'witha'surface which serves'to cam or pilotthe jaw 22 intoproper connectingrelation to the rail. When the jaw 20 is being forced onto-the flange 17and finally secured thereto the material of'the shim between its upperportion13 and vertical portion 15 and'forming a cornerportion-ispressured into conforming relationship withthe area' 11 andatleast about the upper portionof the edge ofthe flange 16 as depictedin FIGURE 6. It will be noted thatwhen the anchor isfirmly secured inplacethrough the agency of the shinnth'at the free end of the upperportion 13' of the shim may take 'an inclined spaced position relativetothe'in-- clined surface 18 of the flange and that aportionof-the lowerportion 14of the shimmaytake an inclined-spacedposition relative to theunder surface of the flange. It will be manifest that the shi'm is;disposed substantiallywithin the confines of'the anchor for substantialconcealment and engages the area-11 and'the surface 25 over parallellongitudinal extending areas ofv contact or engage-' ment atdiiferentlocationsand elevations. Otherwise expressed, the shim engagesthe area 11' and the-flange 16* over an'upper longitudinal area andbetween-the,surface-- 25 and under surfacexof-the flange over: a lowerlongi tudinal area. The areas of contact established have proven' veryefficient'and durable inspractice.

It is to be understood that the shims may be made ofdifferentthicknesses of metal or other suitable material to accommodate anchor wear ofdiiferent' degrees.

example, where the wear in the jaw 19of the anchor 10'- is 'great,*ashim of greater thickness may be nsedJWhere as if the wear is less thanthat shown, a shim' of; less thickness, such as 26 as shown in FIGURE 8,may be used."

Fromthe foregoing it is believed that the construction."

and operation of 'my invention may be readily understood by thoseskilled'in the art, audit is apparent thatcha'nges may be made in thedetails disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention'asexpressed in the fole lowing; claims.

Iclaim: 1. A'method of applying an elongate resiliently flexibleclamping member provided with a jaw atone end havingan internal wornarea and locking means at its opposite end'and a substantially U-shapedresiliently flexible shimv having a distortable' corner portion to arail having a head,

web'and a pairof base flanges in which eachflange has an. upperlongitudinally extending edge portion of a configuration different fromthat. of said distortable corner portion of said shim, which comprisesapplying the shim to one of the flanges ina direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of .thelrailto yieldably' receive said flange,

placing the clamping member under the rail so that said jaw-receives*said one fla'nge and substantiallylreceives said shim withinitsconfines, and then applying a force to said member in. a,directiontransverseto said axis to cause said holding meansto fconnect with theother flange to' hold the member to the rail andithereby distort saiddistortable corner portion of said shim out of its orig inal shape intoconforming relationshipiwith said edge portion offsaid'one flange andsaid worn area of said 1' jaw.

clamp, .in which the rail includes a head, web anda pair of base flangeswith each flange-having" an inclined upper. surface, a bottom surfaceand a substantially verticalsurface defines in cornbination'withsaidupper surface alongitudinally extending upper edge portion, theclamp has a jaw at one cndprovided with an internal worn area forlocation opposite said edge portion and holding means atis oppositeend,,and the shim is substantially U-shaped, and, resiliently flexibleand comprises an'inclined upper planar leg, alower planar leg-arid abridge forming in combination with f'said upper leg a corner portion,said" shim' being adapted for manual disposition in receiving relation"with one. of saidflanges so that when said clampv is applied to saidrail to cause its jaw to receive said one flange and said shim-and itsholding means the other of said-flanges, said corner portion ofsaidshim' will'be distorted into conforming relationship with said edgeportion 3 ofsaid one flange and said 'w'orn area of'said jaw.

3. In combination: a railroad rail }comprising a head,

web and a pair. of internally extending flangesaat least oneof which hasan upper inclined planar surface, a-lower horizontal surface and asubstantially vertical surface, .de-

fining in combinationiwith said inclined surface anupper longitudinallyextending edge portion, .an.elongate clamping member extendingtransversely under said rail and having ajaw at one endreceiving saidone rail flangeand means at itsloppositeend connected to the'otherflange,

said jaw: having an internal worn area located directly opposite saidupper edgerportion, a substantially Uwshaped resiliently flexible thinshimdisposed substantially within the confines. of saidjawand; receivingsaid .one. flange comprising a lower horizontal planar leg, anupperplanar leg and a bridge forming in combination with said upper.

leg an upper corner portion, said clamping member exerting forcesserving to distort said corner portion of said out of its original.shapeintoconformingrelationship with said edge portion. of said one,flange and said wornarea-of said one jaw .forfirmly holding saidmemberto said rail. 7 7 7 References Cited by the Examiner JAMES S.SHANK, LEO QUACKENBUSH,

' Examiners:-

2. A shiml for use witharailroad railandan elongate.v

3. IN COMBINATION: A RAILROAD RAIL COMPRISING A HEAD, WEB AND A PAIR OFINTERNALLY EXTENDING FLANGES AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH HAS AN UPPER INCLINEDPLANAR SURFACE, A LOWER HORIZONTAL SURFACE AND A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALSURFACE DEFINING IN COMBINATION WITH SAID INCLINED SURFACE AN UPPERLONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING EDGE PORTION, AN ELONGATE CLAMPING MEMBEREXTENDING TRANSVERSELY UNDER SAID RAIL AND HAVING A JAW AT ONE ENDRECEIVING SAID ONE RAIL FLANGE AND MEANS AT ITS OPPOSITE END CONNECTEDTO THE OTHER FLANGE, SAID JAW HAVING AN INTERNAL WORN AREA LOCATEDDIRECTELY OPPOSITE SAID UPPER EDGE PORTION, A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPEDRESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE THIN SLIM SHIM DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THECONFINES OF SAID JAWS AND RECEIVING SAID ONE FLANGE COMPRISING A LOWERHORIZONTAL PLANAR, LEG, AN UPPER PLANAR LEG AND A BRIDGE FORMING INCOMBINATION WITH SAID UPPER LEG AN UPPER CORNER PORTION, SAID CLAMPINGMEMBER EXERTING FORCES SERVING TO DISTORT SAID CORNER PORTION OF SAIDSHIM OUT OF ITS ORIGINAL SHAPE INTO CONFORMING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAIDEDGE PORTION OF SAID ONE FLANGE AND SAID WORN AREA OF SAID ONE JAW FORFIRMLY HOLDING SAID MEMBER TO SAID RAIL.